Artery stiffness and reflected blood pressure after complicated pregnancies and future heart risk
Official title: Arterial Stiffness and Wave Reflection: Physiological Contributors to CVD after Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11171369 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are measuring artery stiffness and blood-pressure wave patterns in women who had pregnancy complications to find early signs of future heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $697,475 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL167841-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171369 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who experienced an adverse pregnancy outcome (for example, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, intrauterine growth restriction, or preterm birth) and who can attend follow-up visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Women without a history of pregnancy complications or those with advanced cardiovascular disease already under treatment may not see direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
You would be followed after pregnancy with noninvasive tests that measure artery stiffness and how pressure waves reflect in your blood vessels. The team will compare women who had hypertensive pregnancy disorders, growth-restricted babies, or preterm births with women who did not, using data and samples from a large, diverse group of past participants. The goal is to spot early vascular changes that come before high blood pressure or heart disease and to see whether these signals point to opportunities for prevention or lifestyle intervention. Most tests are quick, do not involve surgery, and include follow-up visits over several years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify women at higher risk for heart disease earlier so they can receive prevention or lifestyle support sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Small single-center studies have reported vascular changes after some pregnancy complications, but large multi-center evidence is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lane, Abbi Danielle — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Lane, Abbi Danielle
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.